Reusable Container with Radio Frequency Identification Seal

ABSTRACT

A container enclosing an interior and having at least one door that can be displaced from a closed position preventing access to the interior, and an open position providing access to the interior; the container including: a first recess, the recess being in the door; an insert projecting into the recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the slot; a second recess, the second recess being in a part of the container other than the door; a second insert, the second insert projecting inwardly of the second recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the second recess; and wherein when the door is in the closed position the portions are adjacently located so that when secured together movement of the door toward the open position is inhibited.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to containers to receive a seal toindicate whether the container has been opened or tampered with, andmore particularly but not exclusively to a reusable container with radiofrequency identification seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A radio frequency identification (RFID) label or tag (the terms labeland tag are used interchangeably in this document) is a label or tagthat includes electronics enabling the label or tag to store informationthat can be read by a remote reading device using radio frequency (RF)communications means. A pressure sensitive (i.e. self-adhesive) RFIDlabel or tag is attached to a surface by means of pressure sensitiveadhesive on the RFID label or tag.

A pressure sensitive RFID label or tag can incorporate tamperindication, such that its RFID function is modified if the RFID label ortag is applied to a surface and subsequently tampered by being partiallyor completely removed from the surface. In this way the tamper status ofthe RFID label can be monitored remotely and automatically by using anRFID reading device.

A tamper indicating RFID label can be used to seal a container. Theintegrity of the container can then be monitored remotely andautomatically by using an RFID reading device to monitor the tamperstatus of the tamper indicating RFID label.

Reusable containers are commonly used to store and transport commercialgoods (such as pharmaceutical products) or sensitive items (such asclassified documents or secure electronic equipment). Using a pressuresensitive tamper indicating RFID label to seal such a reusable containerprovides a fast and easy way to determine whether the container has beenopened. The RFID label may include a writable electronic memory and somay store information regarding the contents of the container. Thetamper indicating RFID label will be removed and will usually bediscarded when the container is opened.

A disadvantage of using a pressure sensitive tamper indicating RFIDlabel to seal a reusable container is that after removal the RFID labelleaves an adhesive residue that may also include portions of the labelelectronics. In order for a new tamper indicating RFID label applied tothe container to provide reliable RFID function it is necessary to cleanoff the residue left by the previous RFID label. This is time consumingand inconvenient. If the residue is not removed, residual electronicportions of the previous RFID label (commonly residual portions of theRF antenna) may interfere with the RFID performance of a new RFID labelapplied over the residue.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a container enclosing an interior and havingat least one door that can be displaced from a closed positionpreventing access to said interior, and an open position providingaccess to said interior; the container including:

a first recess, said recess being in said door;

an insert projecting into said recess so as to extend outwardlytherefrom to provide an insert portion outside the slot;

a second recess, said second recess being in a part of said containerother than said door;

a second insert, said second insert projecting inwardly of said secondrecess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portionoutside said second recess; and wherein

when said door is in said closed position the portions are adjacentlylocated so that when secured together movement of the door toward theopen position is inhibited.

Preferably, the container includes a seal secured to said portionsthereby inhibiting movement, of the door toward the open position,without causing alteration of the seal.

Preferably, said inserts are sufficiently rigid to inhibit deformationof the inserts permitting withdrawal of the inserts from the recesseswithout alteration of the seal.

Preferably, said container has a hollow body surrounding said interior,with said door being pivotally attached to said body so as to be movedangularly between the open and closed positions.

Preferably, said container includes a hollow body surrounding saidinterior, with said door is removably attached to said body so as to bedisplaceable relative to the body between the open and closed positions.

Preferably, the container includes a second door, said second door beinglocated adjacent the first door and including said second recess, saidsecond door also being movable between an open position and a closedposition with respect to said interior.

Preferably, one of the doors must be displaced toward the open positionthereof before the other door can be displaced toward the open position.

Preferably, said second door is pivotally attached to the body so as tobe angularly movable between the open and closed positions.

Preferably, the second door is removably attached to the body so as tobe displaceable between the open and closed positions.

Preferably, said seal is an RFID label.

Preferably, said RFID label is altered in a detectable manner iftampered with by movement of the/each door toward the open position.

Preferably, said RFID label has an RFID function, said function beingdisabled if the label is tampered with by any movement of the or eachdoor towards the open position thereof.

Preferably, the container further includes an RFID tag that is toreceive or store a code identifying the container.

Preferably, said tag contains information identifying said label.

Preferably, the container further includes a sensor to provide a signalcontaining information in respect of the container, and a storage meansoperatively associated with the sensor to receive said signal to storesaid information.

Preferably, the container further includes a detector to generate asignal indicative in respect of whether the container has beenpenetrated, and a storage means to receive the signal from the detectorto store said information.

Preferably, the container further includes a transmitter to transmitinformation from the or each storage means.

Preferably, the container includes at least one RFID reader to read saidRFID label, said reader being adapted to store information in respect ofsaid RFID label.

Preferably, said reader is also adapted to transmit information storedin the reader.

Preferably, each insert is slidably located in its respective recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a container;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of thecontainer of FIG. 1 with the container doors partly open;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of thecontainer of FIG. 1 with the container doors closed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of one of the doors of the containerof FIG. 1, and an insert that is inserted into a recess in the door;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the top of the container of FIG. 1after the container doors are closed and sealed, showing how the doorinserts and tamper indicating RFID label are applied;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of aportion of the doors of the container of FIG. 1 after the doors havebeen closed and the container sealed using a tamper indicating RFIDlabel;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of thecontainer of FIG. 1 with the container doors closed and sealed asillustrated schematically in FIG. 6, showing additional components thatmay be included with the container to enhance the functionality of thecontainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described in a preferred form in relationto a rectangular container 100 that is illustrated schematically inFIG. 1. The container 100 has two doors 101 and 102 that open outwards(and in some designs may be removable) to allow access to the inside ofthe container 100. It should be appreciated that the principlesdescribed herein could be applied to containers of other shapes andcontainers that have a single door or more than two doors 101 and 102.The container 100 includes a hollow body 110 surrounding the interior111 of the container 100. Preferably the door 101 and 102 and pivotallyattached to the side walls 112 and 113 of the body 110.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing the container 100 in endcross sectional view, with the sectioning plane being a vertical planedefined by the line A-A of FIG. 1. In the illustration of FIG. 2 thecontainer is shown with the doors 101 and 102 partly open. The containerdoors 101 and 102 pivot around hinges 201 and 202 and close as indicatedby the arrows 203 and 204. The doors 101 and 102 may in some embodimentsbe designed to interlock as they close. The designs of the doors 101 and102 and the hinges 201 and 202 may allow the doors 101 and 102 to beremoved from the container 100 when they are open. In the presentembodiment the door 102 has a flange 205 that is part of the door 102and extends under the door 101 when the two doors 101 and 102 areclosed. Consequently in the embodiment of FIG. 2 the door 102 must beclosed before the door 101, and the door 101 must be opened before thedoor 102. If an attempt is made to open the door 102 first, the flange205 of the door 102 will force the door 101 to open further than thedoor 102 while they are in contact.

In the present preferred embodiment an insert 206 is inserted into arecess (or pocket) in the door 101 as indicated by the arrow 207, andsimilarly an insert 208 is inserted into a recess (or pocket) in thedoor 102 as indicated by the arrow 209.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration corresponding to the illustration ofFIG. 2 but with the doors 101 and 102 closed. After the doors 101 and102 are closed the inserts 206 and 208 cannot be removed without openingat least one of the doors 101 and 102. After the doors 101 and 102 areclosed at least part of each insert 206 and 208 is exposed on theoutside of the container 100, as described below.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the flange 205 may extend most or allof the way under the door 101 to the hinge 201, thereby making it asdifficult as possible to open the doors 101 and 102 without moving theinserts 206 and 208 apart from each other. In some embodiments theflange 205 may engage with the hinge 201 in such a manner as to preventthe door 102 from being opened at all until the door 101 has beensubstantially or fully opened. In some embodiments the design of thedoor 102 may be such that the flange 205 can be retracted into the door102 so as to minimize the size of the door 102 when the door 102 isopen. In some embodiments the flange 205 may not be continuous along thelength of the door 102 but instead may comprise one or more discreteextensions to the door 102.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the door 101 before the insert 206is inserted into the recess 401 in the door 101. The recess 401 of FIG.4 is in the form of a rectangular slot, the inner perimeter of which isindicated in FIG. 4 by the dotted line 402, and the insert 206 isinserted into the recess 401 by sliding it into the slot as indicated bythe arrow 403. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 part of the insert 206 isexposed after the insert 206 has been inserted into the recess 401. Theinsert 206 can only be removed from the recess 401 by sliding it out ofthe recess 401, which is not possible when both of the doors 101 and 102are closed (see the illustration of FIG. 3). FIG. 4A is a sectional endview, through the section B-B, of the door 101 and insert 206. Theinsert 208 fits into a recess in the door 102 in a similar manner.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container 100 with the doors 101 and 102closed, showing the inserts 206 and 208 in place in the doors 101 and102. As in the illustration of FIG. 4, the dashed line 501 shows theoutline of the insert 206 within the recess in the door 101, while thedashed line 502 shows the outline of the insert 208 within the recess inthe door 102. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a portion of each of the inserts206 and 208 is exposed on the outside of the container 100 after thecontainer is closed. Furthermore, the inserts 206 and 208 are adjacentto each other after the doors 101 and 102 are closed, and neither insertcan be removed from the container without opening either or both of thedoors 101 and 102 and thereby moving one of the inserts 206 and 208relative to the other.

A pressure sensitive (i.e. self-adhesive) tamper indicating RFID label503 is applied to the exposed portions of the inserts 206 and 208 suchthat part of the label 503 is applied to each insert. In this embodimentno portion the label 503 is applied to the container 100 or to either ofthe doors 101 and 102.

Optionally, but not necessarily, additional latching or lockingmechanisms 504 may be used to secure the doors 101 and 102 closed.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view, takenthrough the section C-C shown in FIG. 5, of a portion of the doors 101and 102 in the region of the inserts 206 and 208. In FIG. 6 it can beseen that the insert 206 slides into a recessed groove in the door 101and the insert 208 slides into a recessed groove in the door 102. Therecessed grooves in the doors 101 and 102 extend around three sides ofeach of the inserts 206 and 208, as illustrated by the dashed lines 501and 502 in FIG. 5, so that the inserts 206 and 208 cannot be removedfrom the doors 101 and 102 when the doors 101 and 102 are closed. Thepressure sensitive tamper indicating RFID label 503 is applied acrossboth inserts 206 and 208, but preferably does not contact the container100 or either door 101 or 102.

Preferably the inserts 206 and 208 will be made from a material (such asa plastic) that does not interfere with the RF performance of the RFIDlabel 503.

Preferably the pressure sensitive RFID label 503 will be configured toindicate tampering, such that its RFID function will be modified if itis partially or completely removed from either the insert 206 or theinsert 208.

In one preferred embodiment the RFID label 503 may include adisable-on-removal feature, such that its RFID function is disabled ifit is tampered by being partially or completely removed from either theinsert 206 or the insert 208. This disable-on-removal feature may resultfrom (i) using a strong adhesive to attach the RFID label 503 to theinserts 206 and 208, so that the RFID label 503 is damaged when removed;or (ii) including in the design of the RFID label 503 certain weakpoints that are intended to break or separate or fail in some way if theRFID label 503 is removed from the insert 206 or the insert 208; or(iii) other deliberately introduced design element(s) that result inmodification to the RFID performance of the RFID label 503 if it ispartially or completely removed from the insert 206 or the insert 208.

One technique for providing a disable-on-removal feature in the RFIDlabel 503 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,888,509. In that application,a tamper indicating label is described. The label may include RFIDcomponents and an electrically conductive tamper portion coupled to theRFID components. In some embodiments the tamper portion may constituteall or part of the RF antenna of the RFID label. The tamper portionshould be constructed from a destructible electrically conductingmaterial such as electrically conductive ink. The tamper portion can beformed such that it is damaged when the label is tampered by beingremoved from a surface to which it has been applied, thereby modifyingor disabling the RFID function of the RFID label. In one embodiment,adhesion characteristics of the tamper portion are adapted to breakapart or otherwise damage the tamper portion when the RFID label istampered, for example, by partial or complete removal from a surface towhich it has been applied. In this way the RFID capability of the RFIDlabel may be disabled when the tamper portion is damaged, indicatingtampering. In one embodiment the RFID label may be attached to a surfaceby means of an adhesive layer, with the tamper portion positionedbetween the RFID label substrate (that includes the RFID components) andthe adhesive layer. One or more layers of adhesion modifying formulationmay be applied in a specified pattern between the RFID label substrateand the layer of adhesive, with the layers of adhesion modifyingmaterial modifying (by selectively increasing or decreasing) theadhesion of the layers that they separate, and thereby promoting damageto the tamper portion if the RFID label is tampered or removed from asurface to which it has been applied. Since the tamper portion iselectrically connected to the other RFID components in the RFID label,and may form part of the RFID components of the label, the RFID functionof the label may be modified or disabled completely if the RFID label isapplied to a surface and subsequently tampered by being partially orcompletely removed from the surface.

The container 100 may be used to store or transport goods that interferewith the RF performance of the RFID tag 503. To ensure consistentperformance of the RFID tag 503 an RF ground plane—typically anelectrically conductive layer such as a layer of metal—may be includeddirectly underneath the location of the RFID label 503. In FIG. 6 aground plane 601 is illustrated on the inside of the flange 205 directlyunderneath the RFID label 503. In those embodiments where one or moreground planes are included, the design of the RFID label 503 may beadjusted to provide optimum RFID performance of the label 503 talkinginto account the proximity of the ground plane(s). It should beappreciated that the inclusion of a ground plane, such as the groundplane 601, is not a requirement and in some embodiments a ground planewill not be provided.

From the descriptions of FIGS. 1 to 6 it can be seen that once thecontainer 100 is closed and the tamper indicating RFID label 503 isapplied to the inserts 206 and 208, it will be impossible to open thecontainer doors 101 or 102 without tampering the RFID label 503 andthereby modifying its RFID performance characteristics, whichmodification can be detected by an RFID reading device. Conversely, ifthe RFID label 503 reads normally this can be regarded as an indicationthat the container doors 101 and 102 have not been opened since the RFIDlabel 503 was applied.

The tamper indicating RFID label 503 may include a read-only or aread-write data storage memory. Typically the RFID label 503 will storea unique identification code, which may be permanently encoded in thelabel 503, and may also be recorded with information relating to thecontents of the container 100.

In some embodiments the container 100 may include a permanently affixedRFID tag (the container tag) containing a code (the container ID) thatidentifies the container 100. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of thecontainer 100 with a container tag 701 applied to the inside of thecontainer wall. In some embodiments the container tag 701 may beembedded within the material of the container 100. In some embodimentsthe container ID may be recorded into the memory of the RFID label 503in order to match the RFID label 503 to the container 100. In someembodiments the unique ID code of the RFID label 503 (stored in thememory of the RFID label 503) may be recorded into the memory of thecontainer tag 701 in order to match the RFID label 503 to the container100.

A typical scenario for use of the container 100 could be as follows. Thecontainer 100 may be used to securely transport items—for example,pharmaceutical goods or classified documents—from one location to theother. At the point of origin the container 100 may be packed withitems. The inserts 206 and 208 may be placed in the container doors 101and 102, the container doors 101 and 102 closed, and the tamperindicating RFID label 503 applied to the inserts 206 and 208. In someembodiments the ID code stored in the RFID label 503 may be recorded inthe container tag 701 (if present) or the container ID (stored in thecontainer tag 701, if present) may be recorded in the RFID label 503, orboth. Information regarding the container contents may be recorded inthe RFID label 503 or in the container tag 701. The container 100 maythen be transported to a destination location. At the destination theRFID label 503 may be read (using an RFID reader) to determine whetheror not it has been tampered. If the result of reading the RFID labelindicates that the label 503 has been tampered, the intended recipientof the container 100 may take appropriate action or refuse delivery ofthe container. If the result of reading the RFID label 503 indicatesthat the label 503 is untampered, the information stored in its memorymay be read and processed. If a container tag 701 is used, informationin the container tag 701 may be read and processed, which may includecross-referencing this information with information stored in the RFIDlabel 503, as described above. When the container 100 is to be openedthe RFID label 503 will be removed and discarded, the doors 101 and 102will be opened, and the inserts 206 and 208 will be removed anddiscarded. Since the adhesive RFID label 503 was only applied to theinserts 206 and 208, there is no adhesive residue to clean off thecontainer 100 or the doors 101 and 102. Another shipping operation canthen be undertaken with new inserts 206 and 208, and a new tamperindicating RFID label 503.

In addition to the advantage of there being no adhesive clean-up afterremoval of the RFID label 503, a further advantage of the presentinvention is that the material used to make the inserts 206 and 208 canbe matched to the adhesive of the RFID label 503 to provide optimumtamper indicating performance of the RFID label 503 over the requiredenvironmental operating conditions. This can be done without having tocompromise the properties of the material used to make the container100.

Variations on the Preferred Embodiments

It should be appreciated that many variations are possible on the abovedescribed preferred embodiments, while still falling within the generalscope of the present invention. Several non-limiting examples of suchvariations will now be described.

In one variation on the above described embodiments more than one pairof inserts 206 and 208 may be used when closing a container—for example,it there are two or more openings to the container.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the inserts 206and 208 may be held in the doors 101 and 102 by means of a “click-in” or“snap-in” mechanism that does not prevent the inserts being removed butdoes prevent them falling out.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the container100 may have a single door opening (rather than a pair of doors), andone of the inserts 206 or 208 may be inserted into a recess in thesingle door, with the other insert being inserted into an adjacentrecess in the body of the container 100.

In another variation on the above described embodiments one of theinserts 206 or 208 may have the RFID label 503 pre-applied to it orintegrated into it, so that after closing of the doors 101 and 102 theunapplied portion of the RFID label 503 is then applied to the otherinsert.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the tamperindicating RFID label 503 may be a passive RFID label that does notcarry an on-board power source and so will respond to a query from anRFID reader, but will not actively and independently generate an RFsignal.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the tamperindicating RFID label 503 may be an active label that includes aninternal power source (such as a battery) and is thereby capable ofinitiating an RF signal to be read by an external RFID reader. In someembodiments an active tamper indicating RFID label 503 may be configuredto generate an RF signal or internally store indicative data when atampering even occurs to the label 503. A disadvantage of this variationis that active RFID labels are usually significantly more expensive thanpassive RFID labels, and the RFID label 503 is a consumable item thatmust be replaced each time the container 100 is sealed. Hence it isgenerally advantageous to use a lower-cost passive RFID label for thetamper indicating RFID label 503.

In another variation on the above described embodiments an RFID reader702 (see the illustration of FIG. 7) may be housed within or on thecontainer 100 in such a manner that the reader 702 is able to read thetamper indicating RFID label 503. The RFID reader 702 may in turn beconnected to a device 703 within or on the container 100 that includes acommunications capability, such as a wireless communications capability,and provides the ability to:

-   -   accept data from the RFID reader 702 and communicate the reader        data to a remote external device; or    -   receive data from a remote external device and query the RFID        reader 702 according to the data so received.

In this way it will be possible to determine remotely whether the tamperindicating RFID label 503 has been tampered and therefore whether thecontainer 100 has been opened. The device 703 may preferably be poweredby an internal power source (such as a battery). In one embodiment thedevice 703 may store the container ID instead of the container ID beingstored in a separate RFID tag 701 attached to or embedded in thecontainer. The device 703 may include additional capabilities, includingbut not limited to:

-   -   a clock; or    -   a means to determine position, such as a global positioning        system means; or    -   sensors to detect specified chemicals; or    -   sensors to detect light or other radiation; or    -   sensors to detect sound; or    -   sensors to detect motion or orientation; or    -   other sensors.

Data derived from such additional capabilities may be communicated viathe communications capability of the device 703 to a remote externaldevice, along with data derived from the RFID reader 702. The RFIDreader 702 and device 703 may be contained within a single housing. TheRFID reader 702, or the antenna of the RFID reader 702, may be mountedon the inside of the door 101 or the door 102 in order to be in closeproximity to the tamper indicating RFID label 503.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the containermay be equipped with a means to detect penetration of any of thecontainer walls or of either of the doors 101 or 102. This may beimportant in order to detect when surreptitious access has been gainedto the container interior by making a hole in a container wall or door,or by separating the container walls along an edge. In one embodiment ofthe present variation the walls of the container 100 and each of thecontainer doors 101 and 102 may incorporate an electricalpenetration-detection grid, the electrical properties of which may bemodified if a hole of greater than specified dimensions is made in thegrid. The device 703 may include a means to monitor, either using wiredor wireless methods, the electrical properties of each of thepenetration-detection grids in the container 100 and container doors 101and 102, thereby providing a means to determine whether the container100 or container doors 101 and 102 have been penetrated. The device 703may further provide a means to store or communicate to a remote externaldevice information indicating whether or not the container 100 orcontainer doors 101 and 102 have been penetrated.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the container100 may be a collapsible container.

In another variation on the above described embodiments ridges or otherraised areas may be provided on the outside of the container doors 101and 102 in the vicinity of the tamper indicating RFID label 503 in orderto provide protection against the label 503 being damaged due to impact.

In another variation on the above described embodiments the inserts 206and 208 may be made somewhat smaller than the recesses that house theinserts, in order to allow the inserts to move a small amount within therecesses, thereby minimizing the possibility that any physicaldistortion of the container 100 or container doors 101 and 102 (that mayoccur, for example, in transit) will be transferred to the inserts 206and 208, and to the RFID label 503, and thereby lead to a “false tamper”of the RFID label 503 (i.e. a tamper of the RFID label 503 that is notthe result of someone trying to open the container 100).

It should be appreciated that the devices and methods described hereinmay be used to seal any type of container, including a housing or casingfor an item of electrical or electronic equipment. In this case it maybe important for warranty or maintenance purposes to know whether theitem of equipment has been accessed in an unauthorized manner.

In respect of the abovementioned inserts 206 and 208, it should beappreciated the inserts 206 and 208 are sufficiently rigid to inhibittheir removal without damaging the RFID label 503. For example theinserts 206 and 208 may be made of generally rigid plastics material.The inserts 206 and 208 are slidably located in their respectiverecesses 401.

Each of the inserts 206 and 208 projects inwardly of the respectiverecess 401 so that each insert 206 and 208 has an enclosed portion 114located in the associated recess 401, and an exposed portion 115 locatedoutside the associated recess 401, with the exposed portions 115 beinglocated adjacent each other when the doors 101 and 102 are in the closedposition, thus permitting the application of the RFID label 503 thereto.

1. A container enclosing an interior and having at least one door that can be displaced from a closed position preventing access to said interior, and an open position providing access to said interior; the container including: a first recess, said recess being in said door; an insert projecting into said recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the slot; a second recess, said second recess being in a part of said container other than said door; a second insert, said second insert projecting inwardly of said second recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside said second recess; and wherein when said door is in said closed position the portions are adjacently located so that when secured together movement of the door toward the open position is inhibited.
 2. The container of claim 1 further including a seal secured to said portions thereby inhibiting movement of the door toward the open position without causing alteration of the seal.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein said inserts are sufficiently rigid to inhibit deformation of the inserts permitting withdrawal of the inserts from the recesses without alteration of the seal.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein said container has a hollow body surrounding said interior, with said door being pivotally attached to said body so as to be moved angularly between the open and closed positions.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein said container includes a hollow body surrounding said interior, with said door is removably attached to said body so as to be displaceable relative to the body between the open and closed positions.
 6. The container of claim 1, further including a second door, said second door being located adjacent the first door and including said second recess, said second door also being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to said interior.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein one of the doors must be displaced toward the open position thereof before the other door can be displaced toward the open position.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein said second door is pivotally attached to the body so as to be angularly movable between the open and closed positions.
 9. The container of claim 7, wherein the second door is removably attached to the body so as to be displaceable between the open and closed positions.
 10. The container of claim 2, wherein said seal is an RFID label.
 11. The container of claim 10, wherein said RFID label is altered in a detectable manner if tampered with by movement of the/each door to the open position.
 12. The container of claim 11, wherein said RFID label has an RFID function, said function being disabled if the label is tampered with by any movement of the or each door towards the open position thereof.
 13. The container of claim 1, further including an RFID tag that is to receive or store a code identifying the container.
 14. The container of claim 13, further including a seal secured to said portions thereby inhibiting movement of the door toward the open position without causing alteration of the seal, wherein said tag contains information identifying said label.
 15. The container of claim 1, further including a sensor to provide a signal containing information in respect of the container, and a storage means operatively associated with the sensor to receive said signal to store said information.
 16. The container of claim 1, further including a detector to generate a signal indicative in respect of whether the container has been penetrated, and a storage means to receive the signal from the detector to store said information.
 17. The container of claim 16, further including a transmitter to transmit information from the or each storage means.
 18. The container of claim 2, wherein the container includes at least one RFID reader to read said RFID label, said reader being adapted to store information in respect of said RFID label.
 19. The container of claim 18, wherein said reader is also adapted to transmit information stored in the reader.
 20. The container of claim 1 wherein each insert is slidably located in its respective recess. 